does essay word count include references

APA 7th Edition Referencing Guide: Formatting your assignment

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Check your course module outline, or ask your tutor how they would like your assignments formatted.  If you can't find this information, then the below guidelines have been taken from the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association: The Official Guide to APA Style (7th ed.) (the Manual) to assist you.

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* { box-sizing: border-box; } .row { display: flex; } .column { flex: 50%; padding: 10px; height: }.

All papers should have a title page (you may have been provided a template in your module outline). All pages should be numbered (top right corner) and often you are expected to include your student ID number on each page too.  If you are handing in a paper copy, you may need to ensure you only print on one side of the page (check your tutor's preferences).

All margins (top, bottom, left, and right) should be 2.54 cm (this is the default 'normal' setting on Word).  However, some tutors might like your left margin to be much bigger (e.g. 4 cm) to allow for marking.  Also, if you are intending to get your assignment bound, you need to allow space on the left-hand margin to allow for this.

The entire paper should be double spaced, except:

• Elements of the title page (not relevant for undergraduates)
• The body of tables, figures and images will depend on the presentation of the data.
• Displayed equations

Postgraduate students and those of you publishing your work, refer to the Manual for specific information.

APA style allows for a range of accessible fonts to be used, but be consistent and use the same font throughout your paper.  However, it would be advisable to stick to 11-point Calibri or 11-point Arial throughout your assignments.

Paragraph alignment and indentation

Text should be aligned left, so that your right margin has an uneven "ragged" look. D on't use full justification, otherwise your words will be unevenly spaced across the page.

Indent the first line of every paragraph by using the tab key.

• Level 1 headings should be centred and bold.
• Level 2 headings should be left-aligned and bold
• Level 3 headings should be left-aligned and bold italic

See the Manual for further information.

Appendices contain material that supplements your paper, but would be distracting or inappropriate to include within the body of your text.  For example, if you interview someone for your research, you might want to include the transcript of the interview in an appendix.

Appendices go at the very end of your assignment after references, footnotes, tables, and figures.  Begin each appendix on a new page and provide a label and title for each.  If you only have one, label it Appendix. If you have more than one, label each with a capital letter e.g. "Appendix A", "Appendix B", in the order mentioned in the text. (Note, each appendix needs to be mentioned at least once within the text by its label, e.g. "see Appendix A".)  Labels should be bold and centred.  The appendix title should describe its contents and also be bold and centred, but on a separate line from the label.  Use title case for both the label and title.

Appendix A (label)

Analysis of Speech Fragments (title)

Content of appendix formatted the same as the body of the assignment.

According to the Manual, your word count should include the entire document from the title page to the appendices.  However, for the purposes of an assignment, we would only expect your word count to include the text (and in text citations) of the body of your work, not the title page, contents page, reference list or appendices.  As always, double check with your tutor to find out their preference.

Italicising foreign words

The APA Guide requires any words in a language that the intended reader is not familiar with to be written in italics. However, this is something you can use your judgement on. If you are uncomfortable about italicising 'foreign' words, or think your intended reader/s will be offended by it, you do not have to.

Wintec will always place cultural appropriateness above a formatting requirement.

Please note: Te Reo Māori is an official language of New Zealand. It is not a foreign language.

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Q. Are the title page, in-text citations, and/or references included in an essay's word count?

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Answered By: Theresa Bell (she/her/hers) Last Updated: Nov 17, 2021     Views: 45407

If you're writing for an academic audience, you're probably aiming for a specific word count. According to the American Psychological Association (APA, 2020),

to determine word count, count every word from beginning to end, including all in-text citations, reference entries, tables, figures (other than words in a figure image, which may not be captured by word count), and appendices. The default settings of the word-count function of your word-processing program are acceptable for determining the word count. (p. 46)

Since in-text citations are essential in academic writing to acknowledge sources of information and prevent plagiarism, including them in the word count aligns them at the same level of importance as the rest of the information in the work. If you are unsure of the expectations for your work, please check with your instructor or publishing editor for direction. 

If you are working in a PC version of Microsoft Word, you can click the Word Count button, which can be found under the Review tab in the Proofing section:

If you are using Microsoft Word for Mac, you can view the word count in the status bar at the bottom left corner of the page.

If you are using a different word processing program, please search online for the appropriate instructions to calculate the word count.

If you are not expected to include in-text citations in the word count for your document, try using the  Writer's Diet Test  to check the word count. The  Writer's Diet Test  gives automated feedback on sentence-level conciseness for a selection of 100-1000 words, as well as noting the word count for the selection. The test's default setting excludes anything in parentheses, though you can adjust the settings in the "Advanced" tab.

Whether you're submitting an assignment or a manuscript for publication, adhering to the word limit is one of your responsibilities as an author. You can assume that you should include your in-text citations in your word count; however, if you're unsure of what's expected of you, please check with your instructor or publishing editor for clarification.

American Psychological Association. (2020).  Publication manual of the American Psychological Association  (7th ed.).  https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

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Are bibliographies/reference lists generally included in page/word counts?

I regularly assign my undergraduate students papers with a range of expected page/word length (e.g. 10-12 pages or 2500-3000 words). Is there any sort of rule as to whether or not to count a works cited page(s0 (and its equivalent in the other citation styles) in determining if a paper meets this limit? I've discussed this with colleagues and heard varying answers.

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• 1 The general rule I have always seen is only intro+body+conclusion counts. Appendixes, reference lists, tables of contents/figures/etc. do not count. –  earthling Commented Dec 2, 2014 at 22:54
• 3 I don't understand what sort of rule you mean. If you are setting the assignment, you can choose whether to count the references towards the page limit. It really doesn't matter whether you make the same choice as others, as long as you make it clear to the students (which you should do anyway, since they won't necessarily know what's common). Are you asking instead which choice is better educationally? For example, regarding incentives to pad the bibliography. If so, it would help to clarify the question. –  Anonymous Mathematician Commented Dec 2, 2014 at 22:56
• Agreed, it's your call. If you have your own expectations then just be as specific as possible in the assignment as to whether or not the bibliography counts towards the page count. It's also a good idea to be clear about how many sources you expect them to cite, and where you expect the source material to come from (e. g. "...at least ten sources and no more than three of them can be Web sites..."). –  Raydot Commented Dec 3, 2014 at 0:05

2 Answers 2

In the scientific world, whether citations count against length limits or not varies wildly by publication, including hybrid models like AAAI which allows six pages text and up to one page of citations.

I think that which way you go depends on what you want the students to learn. Some examples that would push you one way or another:

If you want them to focus on prose, don't count citations in the length.

If you want them to learn to express complicated thoughts concisely, use a short page limit and count citations (e.g., the IEEE six-page format)

If you want them to focus on referencing, count citations and text separately.

Either way it shouldn't matter too much, because you're using a range and probably have some flexibility in how you apply your rubric, so you can adjust for common sense.

Should not count.

A six-line main text can pack more convincing arguments compared to a one-line main text. That's why it's important to make sure all students have an equal share of area or real property to build upon.

A six-line citation does not necessarily bring any advantage compared to a one-line citation. For that reason, I don't see why we should penalize students who had identified some information with more authors or a longer title; that is not how we teach them to examine the credibility of a paper.

If you're concerned about them citing too many things or citing mindlessly, you may put a limit on the number of citations like some journals do. However, I wouldn't include them in the word count.

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How to Write an Academic Essay with References and Citations

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Written by  Scribendi

If you're wondering how to write an academic essay with references, look no further. In this article, we'll discuss how to use in-text citations and references, including how to cite a website, how to cite a book, and how to cite a Tweet, according to various style guides.

You might need to cite sources when writing a paper that references other sources. For example, when writing an essay, you may use information from other works, such as books, articles, or websites. You must then inform readers where this information came from. Failure to do so, even accidentally, is plagiarism—passing off another person's work as your own.

You can avoid plagiarism and show readers where to find information by using citations and references. 

Citations tell readers where a piece of information came from. They take the form of footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical elements, depending on your style guide. In-text citations are usually placed at the end of a sentence containing the relevant information. 

A reference list , bibliography, or works cited list at the end of a text provides additional details about these cited sources. This list includes enough publication information allowing readers to look up these sources themselves.

Referencing is important for more than simply avoiding plagiarism. Referring to a trustworthy source shows that the information is reliable. Referring to reliable information can also support your major points and back up your argument. 

Learning how to write an academic essay with references and how to use in-text citations will allow you to cite authors who have made similar arguments. This helps show that your argument is objective and not entirely based on personal biases.

How Do You Determine Which Style Guide to Use?

Often, a professor will assign a style guide. The purpose of a style guide is to provide writers with formatting instructions. If your professor has not assigned a style guide, they should still be able to recommend one. 

If you are entirely free to choose, pick one that aligns with your field (for example, APA is frequently used for scientific writing). 

Some of the most common style guides are as follows:

AP style for journalism

Chicago style for publishing

APA style for scholarly writing (commonly used in scientific fields)

MLA style for scholarly citations (commonly used in English literature fields)

Some journals have their own style guides, so if you plan to publish, check which guide your target journal uses. You can do this by locating your target journal's website and searching for author guidelines.

How Do You Pick Your Sources?

When learning how to write an academic essay with references, you must identify reliable sources that support your argument. 

As you read, think critically and evaluate sources for:

Objectivity

Keep detailed notes on the sources so that you can easily find them again, if needed.

Tip: Record these notes in the format of your style guide—your reference list will then be ready to go.

How to Use In-Text Citations in MLA

An in-text citation in MLA includes the author's last name and the relevant page number: 

(Author 123)

How to Cite a Website in MLA

Here's how to cite a website in MLA:

Author's last name, First name. "Title of page."

Website. Website Publisher, date. Web. Date

retrieved. <URL>

With information from a real website, this looks like:

Morris, Nancy. "How to Cite a Tweet in APA,

Chicago, and MLA." Scribendi. Scribendi

Inc., n.d. Web. 22 Dec. 2021.

<https://www.scribendi.com/academy/articles/how_to_cite_a_website.en.html>

How Do You Cite a Tweet in MLA ?

MLA uses the full text of a short Tweet (under 140 characters) as its title. Longer Tweets can be shortened using ellipses. 

MLA Tweet references should be formatted as follows:

@twitterhandle (Author Name). "Text of Tweet." Twitter, Date Month, Year, time of

publication, URL.

With information from an actual Tweet, this looks like:

@neiltyson (Neil deGrasse Tyson). "You can't use reason to convince anyone out of an

argument that they didn't use reason to get into." Twitter, 29 Sept. 2020, 10:15 p.m.,

https://twitter.com/neiltyson/status/1311127369785192449 .

How to Cite a Book in MLA

Here's how to cite a book in MLA:

Author's last name, First name. Book Title. Publisher, Year.

With publication information from a real book, this looks like:

Montgomery, L.M. Rainbow Valley. Frederick A. Stokes Company, 1919.

How to Cite a Chapter in a Book in MLA

Author's last name, First name. "Title of Chapter." Book Title , edited by Editor Name,

Publisher, Year, pp. page range.

With publication information from an actual book, this looks like:

Ezell, Margaret J.M. "The Social Author: Manuscript Culture, Writers, and Readers." The

Broadview Reader in Book History , edited by Michelle Levy and Tom Mole, Broadview

Press, 2015,pp. 375–394.

How to  Cite a Paraphrase in MLA

You can cite a paraphrase in MLA exactly the same way as you would cite a direct quotation. 

Make sure to include the author's name (either in the text or in the parenthetical citation) and the relevant page number.

How to Use In-Text Citations in APA

In APA, in-text citations include the author's last name and the year of publication; a page number is included only if a direct quotation is used: 

(Author, 2021, p. 123)

How to Cite a Website in APA

Here's how to cite a website in APA:

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year, Month. date of publication). Title of page. https://URL

Morris, N. (n.d.). How to cite a Tweet in APA, Chicago, and MLA. 

https://www.scribendi.com/academy/articles/how_to_cite_a_website.en.html       

Tip: Learn more about how to write an academic essay with  references to websites .

How Do You  Cite a Tweet in APA ?

APA refers to Tweets using their first 20 words. 

Tweet references should be formatted as follows:

Author, A. A. [@twitterhandle). (Year, Month. date of publication). First 20 words of the

Tweet. [Tweet] Twitter. URL

When we input information from a real Tweet, this looks like:

deGrasse Tyson, N. [@neiltyson]. (2020, Sept. 29). You can't use reason to convince anyone

out of an argument that they didn't use reason to get into. [Tweet] Twitter.

https://twitter.com/neiltyson/status/1311127369785192449

How to Cite a Book in APA

Here's how to cite a book in APA:   

Author, A. A. (Year). Book title. Publisher.

For a real book, this looks like:

Montgomery, L. M. (1919). Rainbow valley.

Frederick A. Stokes Company.

How to Cite a Chapter in a Book in APA

Author, A. A. (Year). Chapter title. In Editor Name (Ed.), Book Title (pp. page range).

With information from a real book, this looks like:

Ezell, M. J. M. (2014). The social author: Manuscript culture, writers, and readers. In

Michelle Levy and Tom Mole (Eds.), The Broadview Reader in Book History (pp. 375–

394). Broadview Press.

Knowing how to cite a book and how to cite a chapter in a book correctly will take you a long way in creating an effective reference list.

How to Cite a Paraphrase in APA

You can cite a paraphrase in APA the same way as you would cite a direct quotation, including the author's name and year of publication. 

In APA, you may also choose to pinpoint the page from which the information is taken.

Referencing is an essential part of academic integrity. Learning how to write an academic essay with references and how to use in-text citations shows readers that you did your research and helps them locate your sources.

Learning how to cite a website, how to cite a book, and how to cite a paraphrase can also help you avoid plagiarism —an academic offense with serious consequences for your education or professional reputation.

Scribendi can help format your citations or review your whole paper with our Academic Editing services .

Take Your Essay from Good to Great

Hire an expert academic editor , or get a free sample, about the author.

Scribendi's in-house editors work with writers from all over the globe to perfect their writing. They know that no piece of writing is complete without a professional edit, and they love to see a good piece of writing transformed into a great one. Scribendi's in-house editors are unrivaled in both experience and education, having collectively edited millions of words and obtained numerous degrees. They love consuming caffeinated beverages, reading books of various genres, and relaxing in quiet, dimly lit spaces.

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What counts as a word when dealing with a word limit?

I am trying to determine if it will be feasible to revise a manuscript for a journal that has a 6500 word limit. Currently, the manuscript is between 7500 and 8000 words long, depending on how I count words. However, it is not clear which of the following words will count toward my word count (in decreasing order of word count):

• Figure and table legends
• Math equations
• Section headings

Which of these uses count toward a word limit? Are there general rules for which words count toward a word limit?

Bonus: how strict are editors with word limits?

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• scientific-publishing

First of all, you should check and see if they have any guidelines posted that will help you to be certain that you stay within their listed range. If they don't have anything listed, then you could send them an inquiry to try to find out.

• Generally, the word count would not include the title page, if you have one.
• Words used in tables or graphs, including the legends, would not normnally be included.
• If you use abstracts as part of the body of your material, then they would be included.
• Citations, on the other hand, would not.
• If the math equations constitute any portion of your overall content, then they would be included.
• Section headings should be included.
• When you mention numbers, I assume you mean numbers that are used as part of your formulas or equations, in which case they would be included.

If you make use of an appendix or a table of contents, then neither of those would be included in your word count. I would recommend creating a second copy of your document and removing the items that would NOT be included and see what your word processor comes up with for the word count. That would probably put you pretty close to where you need to be.

As far as editors,it just depends. Some may be flexible, especially if the content warrants it. Others, however, set limits as a hard and fast rule and are not willing to concede and additional space at all.

• thank you for the advice. I wanted to ask here first before bothering the editor with a naive question. The numbers I was curious about are in the text. –  David LeBauer Commented Sep 6, 2011 at 18:00
• In that case, your numbers would inded count. –  Steven Drennon Commented Sep 6, 2011 at 18:08

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Q. Do my references count towards my Word Count?

Do my in-text citations and reference lists get included in the Word Count for my assignment?

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Last Updated: 02 Oct, 2018     Views: 64370

While different styles may give you advice for whether or not to include references in your Word Count (for example, APA recommends including everything - even the headers and footers), this is actually a matter for your markers to answer, as it is normally a decision made by the College.

Often (but not always) markers will count everything in the body of your assignment (including quotes and in-text citations), but will not include the reference list in their calculations. However, this might not be the case for your course.

Read your Subject Outline and check with your lecturer for a definitive answer for your course.

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Q. What is included in the word count?

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Answered By: Ros Sykes Last Updated: Dec 13, 2023     Views: 15577

The word count usually includes everything in the main body of the text including citations, quotations and tables. Everything before the main text (e.g. abstract, acknowledgements, contents, executive summaries) and everything after the main text (e.g. references, bibliographies, appendices) are not included in the word count limit.

There are exceptions to this, but if there is an exception it should be explained in your assessment brief.  For more information see the University Assessment Policy .

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• ah...well...that's 772 words off my word count...I may need to request an extension to my project submission date. by Abdullah Qadri on May 02, 2024

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Are references included in my word count?

• Citations within the text are usually included in your assignment word count. So quotations, references, footnotes, etc. would all be counted.
• The bibliography or reference list, however, is usually not included in the word count.

Accepted practice varies across subjects: take careful note of advice given in your module handbook, or by your lecturers, on what is expected.

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APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition)

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In-Text Citations

Resources on using in-text citations in APA style

Reference List

Resources on writing an APA style reference list, including citation formats

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Articles in this section

• [Kriyadocs] What are the authors' responsibilities during copyediting (Author Revisions stage)?
• JMIR House Style and Editorial Guidelines
• What are the steps during copyediting?
• How do I respond to my copyeditor's queries? (copyediting step 2a)
• What is the RefCheck process for authors? (copyediting step 2b)
• What are the authors' responsibilities during copyediting (Step 2)?
• I completed copyediting but I am still getting reminders from the system - what do I need to do?
• What do the different RefCheck icons mean?
• How can I reorder references during copyediting?
• How do I add a reference to my paper (RefCheck) after it has been accepted?

Which elements of my article are included in the word count?

• November 09, 2023 03:13

Word count is important because it influences A) the amount of time copyeditors should spend improving your manuscript, and B) the amount of time it takes JMIR staff to typeset your article. As of Oct 19, 2020 , fees for additional editorial work will be applied to papers which are considered excessively long (over 10,000 words).

Word count  does include:

✔ Manuscript body

✔ Table content

✔ Table captions

✔ Figure captions

✔ Acknowledgements section

✔ Authors' Contributions section

✔ Conflicts of Interest statement

Word count does not include:

✘ Author metadata (names, affiliations, addresses, etc)

✘ Figure content

✘ Multimedia Appendices

✘ References

Inclusion/exclusion of elements is directly based on what the copyeditor needs to address. 

• What is the maximum word count?
• What are your fees for "additional editorial/production work" and when are they applied?

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• How should tables be formatted?
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• (for authors) Guidelines for writing abstracts

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• Referencing and plagiarism

Quick guide to Harvard referencing (Cite Them Right)

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There are different versions of the Harvard referencing style. This guide is a quick introduction to the commonly-used Cite Them Right version. You will find further guidance available through the OU Library on the Cite Them Right Database .

For help and support with referencing and the full Cite Them Right guide, have a look at the Library’s page on referencing and plagiarism . If you need guidance referencing OU module material you can check out which sections of Cite Them Right are recommended when referencing physical and online module material .

This guide does not apply to OU Law undergraduate students . If you are studying a module beginning with W1xx, W2xx or W3xx, you should refer to the Quick guide to Cite Them Right referencing for Law modules .

Table of contents

In-text citations and full references.

• Secondary referencing
• Page numbers
• Citing multiple sources published in the same year by the same author

Full reference examples

Referencing consists of two elements:

• in-text citations, which are inserted in the body of your text and are included in the word count. An in-text citation gives the author(s) and publication date of a source you are referring to. If the publication date is not given, the phrase 'no date' is used instead of a date. If using direct quotations or if you paraphrase a specific section in the source you also need the page number/s if available, or paragraph number for web pages.
• full references, which are given in alphabetical order in a  reference list at the end of your work and are not included in the word count. Full references give full bibliographical information for all the sources you have referred to in the body of your text.

To see a reference list and intext citations check out this example assignment on Cite Them Right .

Difference between reference list and bibliography

a reference list only includes sources you have referred to in the body of your text.

a bibliography includes sources you have referred to in the body of your text AND sources that were part of your background reading that you did not use in your assignment.

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Examples of in-text citations

You need to include an in-text citation wherever you quote or paraphrase from a source. An in-text citation consists of the last name of the author(s), the year of publication, and a page number if relevant. There are a number of ways of incorporating in-text citations into your work - some examples are provided below. Alternatively you can see examples of setting out in-text citations in Cite Them Right .

Example with one author:

Almeroth-Williams, T. (2019) City of Beasts: How Animals Shaped Georgian London . Manchester: Manchester University Press.

RSPCA (2024) Caring for cats and kittens . Available at: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/cats (Accessed: 1 August 2024).

Example with two or three authors:

Grayling, A. and Ball, B. (2024) ' Philosophy is crucial in the age of AI', The Conversation , 1 August. Available at: https://theconversation.com/philosophy-is-crucial-in-the-age-of-ai-235907 (Accessed: 1 August 2024).

Chu, M., Leonard, P. and Stevenson, F. (2012) ' Growing the Base for Citizen Science: Recruiting and Engaging Participants', in J.L. Dickinson and R. Bonney (eds.) Citizen Science: Public Participation in Environmental Research . Ithaca: Cornell University Press, pp. 69-81.

Example with four or more authors:

Young, H.D. et al. (2015) Sears and Zemansky's university physics . San Francisco, CA: Addison-Wesley.

Note: You can choose one or other method to reference four or more authors (unless your School requires you to name all authors in your reference list) and your approach should be consistent.

Online module materials

(Includes written online module activities, audio-visual material such as online tutorials, recordings or videos).

When referencing material from module websites, the date of publication is the year you started studying the module.

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication/presentation) 'Title of item'. Module code: Module title . Available at: URL of VLE (Accessed: date).

OR, if there is no named author:

The Open University (Year of publication/presentation) 'Title of item'. Module code: Module title . Available at: URL of VLE (Accessed: date).

Rietdorf, K. and Bootman, M. (2022) 'Topic 3: Rare diseases'. S290: Investigating human health and disease . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=1967195 (Accessed: 24 January 2023).

The Open University (2022) ‘3.1 The purposes of childhood and youth research’. EK313: Issues in research with children and young people . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=1949633&section=1.3 (Accessed: 24 January 2023).

You can also use this template to reference videos and audio that are hosted on your module website:

The Open University (2022) ‘Video 2.7 An example of a Frith-Happé animation’. SK298: Brain, mind and mental health . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=2013014&section=4.9.6 (Accessed: 22 November 2022).

The Open University (2022) ‘Audio 2 Interview with Richard Sorabji (Part 2)’. A113: Revolutions . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=1960941&section=5.6 (Accessed: 22 November 2022).

Note: if a complete journal article has been uploaded to a module website, or if you have seen an article referred to on the website and then accessed the original version, reference the original journal article, and do not mention the module materials. If only an extract from an article is included in your module materials that you want to reference, you should use secondary referencing, with the module materials as the 'cited in' source, as described above.

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of message', Title of discussion board , in Module code: Module title . Available at: URL of VLE (Accessed: date).

Fitzpatrick, M. (2022) ‘A215 - presentation of TMAs', Tutor group discussion & Workbook activities , in A215: Creative writing . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/forumng/discuss.php?d=4209566 (Accessed: 24 January 2022).

Note: When an ebook looks like a printed book, with publication details and pagination, reference as a printed book.

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) Title . Edition if later than first. Place of publication: publisher. Series and volume number if relevant.

For ebooks that do not contain print publication details

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) Title of book . Available at: DOI or URL (Accessed: date).

Bell, J. (2014) Doing your research project . Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Adams, D. (1979) The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy . Available at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/kindle-ebooks (Accessed: 23 June 2021).

Note: Books that have an editor, or editors, where each chapter is written by a different author or authors.

Surname of chapter author, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of chapter or section', in Initial. Surname of book editor (ed.) Title of book . Place of publication: publisher, Page reference.

Franklin, A.W. (2012) 'Management of the problem', in S.M. Smith (ed.) The maltreatment of children . Lancaster: MTP, pp. 83–95.

Note: When referencing a chapter of an edited book, your in-text citation should give the author(s) of the chapter.

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Journal , volume number (issue number), page reference.

If accessed online:

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Journal , volume number (issue number), page reference. Available at: DOI or URL (if required) (Accessed: date).

Shirazi, T. (2010) 'Successful teaching placements in secondary schools: achieving QTS practical handbooks', European Journal of Teacher Education , 33(3), pp. 323–326.

Shirazi, T. (2010) 'Successful teaching placements in secondary schools: achieving QTS practical handbooks', European Journal of Teacher Education , 33(3), pp. 323–326. Available at: https://libezproxy.open.ac.uk/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/log... (Accessed: 27 January 2023).

Barke, M. and Mowl, G. (2016) 'Málaga – a failed resort of the early twentieth century?', Journal of Tourism History , 2(3), pp. 187–212. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/1755182X.2010.523145

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Newspaper , Day and month, Page reference.

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Newspaper , Day and month, Page reference if available. Available at: URL (Accessed: date).

Mansell, W. and Bloom, A. (2012) ‘£10,000 carrot to tempt physics experts’, The Guardian , 20 June, p. 5.

Roberts, D. and Ackerman, S. (2013) 'US draft resolution allows Obama 90 days for military action against Syria', The Guardian , 4 September. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/04/syria-strikes-draft-resolut... (Accessed: 9 September 2015).

Surname, Initial. (Year that the site was published/last updated) Title of web page . Available at: URL (Accessed: date).

Organisation (Year that the page was last updated) Title of web page . Available at: URL (Accessed: date).

Robinson, J. (2007) Social variation across the UK . Available at: https://www.bl.uk/british-accents-and-dialects/articles/social-variation... (Accessed: 21 November 2021).

The British Psychological Society (2018) Code of Ethics and Conduct . Available at: https://www.bps.org.uk/news-and-policy/bps-code-ethics-and-conduct (Accessed: 22 March 2019).

Note: Cite Them Right Online offers guidance for referencing webpages that do not include authors' names and dates. However, be extra vigilant about the suitability of such webpages.

Surname, Initial. (Year) Title of photograph . Available at: URL (Accessed: date).

Kitton, J. (2013) Golden sunset . Available at: https://www.jameskittophotography.co.uk/photo_8692150.html (Accessed: 21 November 2021).

stanitsa_dance (2021) Cossack dance ensemble . Available at: https://www.instagram.com/p/COI_slphWJ_/ (Accessed: 13 June 2023).

Note: If no title can be found then replace it with a short description.

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How Long Is IB EE? Minimum and Maximum Word Count

As a seasoned IB writer, I’ve seen my fair share of extended essays ranging from the succinctly brilliant to the lengthy and sprawling. So, let’s cut to the chase: What exactly is an IB extended essay, and why is its word count crucial? This essay, a cornerstone of the International Baccalaureate diploma , challenges students to focus on a topic they choose. Managing the minimum and maximum word count is crucial, setting the stage for well-structured research of your chosen subject.

What Is the Word Count Requirement for the Extended Essay?

From my extensive experience guiding students through the intricacies of IB extended essay writing, I can confidently say that understanding word count is crucial to your success. Firstly, the absolute upper limit for an extended essay is 4,000 words. This is a strict threshold. According to general IB criteria, essays exceeding this count risk being penalized, affecting your overall score. This cap is in place to encourage precision and conciseness in your argumentation and analysis.

While the IB mandates no official minimum word count, aiming for at least 3,500 words is widely recommended. Writing fewer than 3,500 words may signal that you have not researched your topic thoroughly. In my opinion, adhering to this suggested minimum helps ensure that you’ve adequately developed and substantiated your essay’s argument with sufficient evidence. From my experience, students who meet or come close to the recommended minimum tend to produce essays that feel complete and robust, reflecting well on their overall investigative and analytical skills.

Balancing between these word counts — not too brief, yet not verbose — is an art form. As you plan and draft your essay, consider these numbers as guides, not just limits. The goal is to build a compelling argument within this range, using each word effectively to strengthen your case.

Extended Essay Word Count for Each Section

Understanding how to allocate your word count across different sections is essential for maintaining a well-structured and balanced argument. In my experience, a clear plan for distributing words helps ensure that each section of your essay receives adequate attention and contributes effectively to your thesis.

Introduction (300-400 words)

The introduction sets the stage for your essay. It should clearly state your research question, provide some background on the topic, and outline the scope of your investigation. This section should capture the reader’s interest and explain why the topic is worth attention. Around 300 to 400 words are generally sufficient to lay a solid foundation without preempting the detailed analysis that will follow.

Body (2800-3200 words)

The body is where you will develop your argument, analyze data, and discuss evidence. This section should be the heart of your essay and use most of your word count. Here’s a breakdown of how you might structure the body:

• Literature Review (500-600 words) . Discuss existing research and different perspectives on your topic.
• Methodology (300-400 words) . Explain the methods used to gather and analyze data.
• Analysis (1400-1600 words) . The bulk of your word count should go here, where you critically analyze your findings.
• Discussion (600-700 words) . Interpret the implications of your findings in light of your research question and existing literature.

Managing the word count across these sections effectively ensures that your essay is balanced and provides a detailed investigation within the constraints set by the IB. From my experience, essays that adhere to these guidelines are more coherent and received better by examiners.

Conclusion (300-400 words)

In the conclusion, you wrap up the essay by summarizing your findings and restating how they answer the research question. This section should also reflect on the implications of your findings and suggest areas for further research. Keeping it concise and focused is critical, so aim for 300 to 400 words.

Appendices and Bibliography

While the appendices and bibliography are essential components of your essay, remember that words here do not count towards your overall word count. Use appendices for supporting documents and data, and ensure your bibliography is comprehensive and formatted correctly.

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• What Is an Internal Assessment?

How Many Pages and Paragraphs Are in a 4000-Word EE?

In my opinion, the formatting of your Extended Essay is as crucial as the content itself. According to general IB criteria, your essay should be typed in a clear, readable font like Times New Roman or Arial, at a size of 12 points. These options are standard across most academic writing, ensuring your work is accessible and professionally presented.

When double-spaced, the typical requirement for the extended essay, a 4000-word document will usually span about 15 to 16 pages. This estimate includes a title page and often a table of contents, which, while they do not contribute to the word count, are essential parts of your essay’s structure.

As for the structure within those pages, from my experience, it’s prudent to aim for about 100 to 150 words per paragraph. This guideline helps maintain clarity and coherence in your argumentation. With this approach, you would expect to have approximately 27 to 40 paragraphs. Each paragraph should ideally present a distinct idea or piece of evidence, systematically building your case and supporting your thesis.

This structure not only aids in the logical flow of your essay but also makes it easier for your examiners to follow and appreciate your analysis. Remember, a well-organized essay reflects your ability to think critically and organize knowledge, which is at the heart of the IB philosophy.

Tips for Managing Your IB Extended Essay Word Count

Managing the word count in your extended essay can be a daunting task. As a seasoned IB writer, I’ve guided many students through this process, helping them meet and effectively use their word limit to produce compelling and thorough research essays. In my experience, efficiently managing your word count is as crucial as the research and analysis. Here are some tips I’ve found invaluable, and I believe they can help you write a well-balanced essay.

Plan Your Essay Structure

In my opinion, the best way to manage your word count begins before you even start writing. Creating a detailed outline of your essay is crucial. It should include a breakdown of how many words you allocate to each section. As I know from guiding IB students, an outline keeps your writing on track. It ensures that each part of your essay contributes effectively to the argument without one section disproportionately consuming the word count.

Write Concisely

According to general IB criteria, clarity and precision are highly valued in an Extended Essay. From my experience, students often struggle with being verbose in their writing. My advice is to prioritize clarity and conciseness. Avoid convoluted sentences and overcomplicated vocabulary that inflate your word count unnecessarily and obscure your points. Instead, focus on being direct. A well-chosen word can often do the job of five.

Use the Iterative Editing Process

As I often tell my students, writing is only the first step. The real magic happens during editing. It’s essential to check for grammatical errors and consistency and refine and reduce your word count. From my experience, always aim to write your first draft slightly over the word limit. This strategy allows you more creative freedom initially, and later, you can trim down excess without the pressure of adding more content.

Get Help With Your Paper

Focus on the analysis, not just description.

A common pitfall for many IB students is spending too many words describing their topic or recounting their research without adequately analyzing it. As I know, and as general IB criteria suggest, the Extended Essay is an analytical research paper, not just a report. Make sure you dedicate a significant portion of your word count to interpreting your findings, discussing implications, and reflecting on the significance of your results concerning your research question.

Regularly Check Your Word Count

Throughout the writing process, keeping an eye on your word count is vital. As I advise, check your word count after completing each section to ensure you’re within the expected range. This strategy helps prevent a last-minute realization that you need significant cuts or additions, which can be disruptive and stressful.

Seek Feedback

Finally, don’t underestimate the value of external feedback. Sharing your draft with peers, teachers, or even former IB students like myself can provide new perspectives on effectively managing your word count. Often, they can identify areas where the writing is unclear or overly verbose, which you might have missed.

So, effectively managing the word count in your IB extended essay isn’t just a formal requirement — it improves the quality and clarity of your argument and makes your insights stand out. Every word in your essay should serve a purpose, whether building an argument, providing evidence, or analyzing data.

Remember that the word count is not just a number but a framework to create a clear, focused, and insightful argument. With careful planning, a disciplined approach to writing, and thorough editing, you can master the art of precision. And if you need help or simply want to  buy an extended essay  from the best IB writers, simply contact our experts and place an order.

Nick Radlinsky

Nick Radlinsky is a devoted educator, marketing specialist, and management expert with more than 15 years of experience in the education sector. After obtaining his business degree in 2016, Nick embarked on a quest to achieve his PhD, driven by his commitment to enhancing education for students worldwide. His vast experience, starting in 2008, has established him as a reputable authority in the field.

Nick's article, featured in Routledge's " Entrepreneurship in Central and Eastern Europe: Development through Internationalization ," highlights his sharp insights and unwavering dedication to advancing the educational landscape. Inspired by his personal motto, "Make education better," Nick's mission is to streamline students' lives and foster efficient learning. His inventive ideas and leadership have contributed to the transformation of numerous educational experiences, distinguishing him as a true innovator in his field.

Utilizing Digital Tools for IB Study and Research

How to Balance Extracurricular Activities and IB Studies?

Table of Contents There’s a good reason why many students have trouble balancing IB and extracurriculars. The IB program is hard enough without extracurricular activities,

What Is the IB Learner Profile? Attributes and Benefits

It’s more than just a framework; the IB learner profile is a list of ten traits that are meant to help students become well-rounded, globally aware people. As an IB writer, I can say that these characteristics, like thinking, communicating, and keeping an open mind, help students grow mentally and socially.

How to Write a Successful IB TOK Exhibition?

To make a successful TOK exhibition, carefully choose the objects, provide clear comments, and plan. As a teacher of IB writing for many years, I’ve seen that students who approach the task with an organized plan and a lot of thought often come up with the best presentations. Don’t rush through the process.

How to Prepare for IB Oral Assessments?

Preparing for IB Oral Assessments entails more than simply understanding your content; it also requires mastering the skill of effective speaking under pressure. As an experienced IB writer, I’ve seen that students who begin their preparation early, practice frequently, and grasp the exact criteria that examiners are looking for do well on these assessments.

IB CAS Projects. The Importance of Reflection

By reflecting on your CAS projects, you learn more about your strengths and flaws. This lets you make smart choices and changes as you work on your project. This process of self-reflection ensures that your CAS experience is more than just a list of things to do; it’s a valuable path of growth.

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Ask Us: Academic Skills Team

What is included in the word count, before you start to write up your assignment you should  check the information provided in your module handbook or assignment brief on the required word count, or ask your tutor for guidance..

Generally speaking, the word count will include the following:

• All titles or headings that form part of the actual text.
• All words that form the essay (the main body of text).
• All words forming the titles for figures, tables and boxes, are included but this does not include boxes or tables or figures themselves
• All in-text (that is bracketed) citations
• All directly quoted material

It will not include:

• All words that form the title page
• All words that form the reference list
• Captions added to visual material (i.e. diagrams, tables, maps, and/or images)

• Academic Writing
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• Last Updated 12 Apr, 2024
• Views 32614
• Answered By Academic Skills team

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How do I exclude the in-text citations from my word count? Last Updated: Sep 03, 2024     Views: 127694

 You usually will not have to exclude in-text citations, however the Postgraduate Research Regulations (Available from the MARP Site)   does state:

"Excluded from the word length is the material preceding the main text of the thesis, (e.g. the title page, contents and abstract), citations, and the material following the main text of the thesis (e.g. the appendices, and the list of references and/or the bibliography)"

Manual word count exclusion in Microsoft Word

• Create a copy of your paper, so you are not working with your document. 
• Delete the other elements such as references and/or appendices as per your guidance
• In the 'Home' tab in Word, choose the 'Replace' button.
• In 'Find what' type the characters  \(*\ )
• Click 'Use Wildcards'
• Click 'Replace All'

This will delete anything in a bracket () in the paper so your word count will then be accurate.

Please note: This will only work in referencing styles that use brackets for in-text citations, and will delete any additional brackets in your paper so be careful!

If you use a referencing style that uses [] or {} brackets, you can replace the () in the string of characters and it will also work. 

Software is regularly updated and If this method no longer works, please email [email protected]  .   Please double check that you have to exclude citations as this is not a standard approach (Except at PGR).

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Does works cited count towards page length?

By rainy_day December 27, 2009 in Writing Samples

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Does works cited count towards page length? Thanks!!

My interpretation is a resounding no. My writing sample was 20 pages of paper and 2 pages of bibliography, and I included all 22 pages even for programs that specified a 20 page maximum. I figure that they won't - or certainly won't have to - read the bibliography, and it would be inappropriate not to include one. If a program does not specify whether these pages count, there is room for interpretation. Even though '20 page maximum' sounds clear, it is an ambiguous statement. While my interpretation could differ from those of the admissions committees, either way I feel as though I still met the spirit of the rule. After all, It's not like I submitted 21 pages of paper.

I'd love to hear any differing thoughts - although I've already submitted all my applications, and will grow anxious if anyone makes a contrasting argument.

JerryLandis

I also submitted 20 pages of text with two pages of bibliography, and don't think the bibliography counts. Some places specifically say they want a maximum of X pages of text, and a bibliography is not necessary. So clearly in that case the bibliography is NOT considered to be part of the page count. When I write essays for my classes, I never include the bibliography in my word count (my university uses word count instead of page count.. but it's essentially the same thing), so I would imagine the same thing goes for application. As the above person said, no one is likely to read your bibliography - it's just there for reference. They just don't want to receive a giant pile of text to sit through and absorb.

Thank you both! That would have been my guess, and it's so helpful to have peace of mind!

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Biosketch format pages, instructions, and samples.

A biographical sketch (also referred to as biosketch) documents an individual's qualifications and experience for a specific role in a project.  NIH requires submission of a biosketch for each proposed senior/key personnel and other significant contributor on a grant application. Some funding opportunities or programs may also request biosketches for additional personnel (e.g., Participating Faculty Biosketch attachment for institutional training awards).  Applicants and recipients are required to submit biosketches

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